Credits:

Sons Of Kemet

Description:

Shabaka Hutchings, a saxophonist, songwriter, philosopher, and author, and one of UK jazz's finest artists, has released his second album on Impulse under the name Sons of Kemet, a unit nominated for the Mercury Prize for the best musical work in the UK and Ireland. The band released its second album. Like their previous album, Your Queen Is A Reptile, the unusual tenor sax - bass - twin drums configuration remains the same, but the album features the next generation of UK rapper Kojay Radical, Chicago-based bandleader and vocalist Angel Bat Davido, American poet and Moore Mather, Joshua Idehen, who also participated in their last album, and legendary UK grime MC D Double E, among other prominent vocalists, make for a dynamic work of art. Shabaka, who strongly sympathized with the Black Lives Matter movement that spread worldwide after the death of George Floyd, said of the album, "I put music on this album to evoke power, memory, and healing.It represents a current that redefines and reaffirms what it means to strive for Black Power." He said. He also wants to leave the meaning of the album to the listener, saying, "I hope that the cultural background of the listener will create the meaning. For humanity to progress, we must consider what it means to be black for the future," he also commented. As seen in "We Are Here by History," released last year as Shabaka and the Ancestors, a common theme has been inherent in Shabaka's releases over the past few years: unearthing forgotten myths, unraveling the sounds of the past, and presenting a thesis for the future. The death of George Floyd and the subsequent This album is no exception, beginning with powerful, politically charged lyrics that express outwardly the anger and frustration Shabaka felt in the wake of George Floyd's death and the subsequent protests of the Black Lives Matter movement. The message is supported by solid musical technique and rich tone, making this a remarkable work of art that maintains a perfect balance.

Tracklisting:

1.Field Negus
2.Pick Up Your Burning Cross
3.Think of Home
4.Hustle
5.For the Culture
6.To Never Forget the Source
7.In Remembrance of Those Fallen
8.Let the Circle Be Unbroken
9.Envision Yourself Levitating
10.Throughout the Madness, Stay Strong
11.Black